Available Technologies

Michigan State University’s invention is a method for indicating the presence of hydroxyl radicals in an aqueous solution. The method uses a simple procedure requiring inexpensive materials, without the addition of competitive probe chemicals that potentially can interfere with the reaction. Mythylene blue dye qualitatively indicates the presence of hydroxyl radicals by visible, distinct bleaching of the blue dye on a paper test strip. A lack of bleaching indicates the absence of hydroxyl radicals in the sample.

Key Benefits

Provides a rapid, qualitative, visual means of indicating the presence of hydroxyl radicals

Simple and inexpensive

Avoids the use of chemical probes, which are needed for previous methods

Could be applied to remediation of organic and solvent wastes, as well as wastewater treatment

Applications

The invention can be used to monitor the progress of in situ chemical oxidation of chlorinated solvents at clean-up sites, as well as checking for wastewater and effluent at treatment sites.